ADJ
current, existing
The current system doesn't work well, so the company is planning to make changes.
modern | old-fashioned, outdated | traditional | standard | complex, complicated, elaborate, intricate, sophisticated | simple | comprehensive | coherent | effective, efficient | viable, workable | inefficient, wasteful | flexible | rigid | stable | foolproof | imperfect, perfect | unique | ad hoc | centralized, decentralized
closed, open
The school's open system allows parents to transfer their children to different classes.
bureaucratic | hierarchical | authoritarian, oppressive, repressive | equitable, fair | corrupt, unjust
bankrupt
The old heating system in our apartment was completely bankrupt of efficiency during winter.
state
Many families prefer sending their children to schools in the state system rather than private schools.
local government, parliamentary, political | electoral, voting
VERB + SYSTEM
build, create, design, develop, devise, set up
adopt, apply, implement, introduce
The company decided to adopt a new payment system last month.
advocate | join
be part of
The public health service is part of a larger system that helps millions of people every year.
manage, operate, run
manipulate, play, use
He manipulated the tax system to avoid paying his fair share.
organize
The school organizes its transportation system to ensure students arrive on time every morning.
adapt, change, transform | tinker with
improve, modernize, overhaul, refine, reform, reorganize, simplify, streamline, strengthen
The government decided to streamline the public transport system to reduce delays.
perfect
perpetuate
The old rules continue to perpetuate a system that makes it harder for women to advance in their careers.
clog up
Too many bureaucratic rules have clogged up the education system for years.
destabilize, disrupt, undermine, weaken
The corruption scandal weakened the country's legal system significantly.
dismantle | abandon, do away with, scrap | destroy, overthrow | replace | restore
criticize, fight, rebel against
Young activists are criticizing the education system for not preparing students for real jobs.
defend, support
beat, buck
He tried to buck the system by refusing to follow the company's strict dress code.
bypass
Some employees found ways to bypass the entire payment system to get faster results.
blame
When the project failed, everyone wanted to blame the system instead of taking responsibility.
SYSTEM + VERB
exist
be based on sth, rest on sth
The education system is based on the idea that all children deserve equal opportunities.
be aimed at sth, be geared to sth
allow sth, enable sth
The new payment system enabled customers to complete their purchases in just a few seconds.
offer sth, provide sth
be in operation, be operational, function, work
The new payment system has been in operation for three months now.
break down, collapse
PREP
in a/the ~
The new software helps doctors find patient records quickly in the hospital system.
under a/the ~
Working under the old system meant filing paperwork by hand every single day.
~ for
We need to create a better system for organizing the office files.
ADJ
sophisticated | computer, computer-based, electronic, manual, mechanical | audio, sound, stereo | satellite | air-conditioning, alarm, electronic mail, exhaust, heating, life-support, phone, plumbing, public address, sprinkler, telephone, ventilation | river, road
VERB + SYSTEM
build, create, develop | improve, streamline
install
We decided to install a new security system in our apartment last week.
SYSTEM + VERB
function, operate, work
break down, fail
The heating system broke down during the coldest week of winter.
PREP
in/with a/the ~
There was a problem in the heating system, so we called a technician to fix it.
ADJ
auditory, circulatory, digestive, immune, (central) nervous, reproductive, respiratory, sensory, visual
PREP
in a/the ~
The doctor found a small infection in the system, so she prescribed antibiotics.
PHRASES
a shock to the system
Moving to a cold country was quite a shock to the system for someone from a tropical island.
ADJ
advanced, powerful | interactive | online | compatible, incompatible | computer, PC | operating, operational | database, management, information
processing, recognition, retrieval
The hospital installed a new patient data retrieval system last year.
server, software | parallel
VERB + SYSTEM
install
boot up, reboot
If the computer freezes, you can always boot up the system again from scratch.
build, design, develop
Engineers developed a new transportation system to reduce traffic congestion in the city.
launch
SYSTEM + VERB
run
The new payment system runs smoothly since we upgraded the software last month.
crash, fail, go down
The heating system crashed during the coldest night of winter.
SYSTEM + NOUN
software
PREP
in a/the ~
There were several problems in the education system that needed to be fixed.